Downliners Sekt – Incerta Glòria
The Disboot label operates from the historic industrial district of Poblenou and has been building an interesting catalogue of fractured electronica looking sideways at the post-dubstep scene. Downliners Sekt (which will feature in the showcase of the label in Sónar 2011) are right now its most important project and the one with the most international appeal.
John Talabot – Sunshine
Talabot doesn't like to show his face and hides behind masks and foil bags. But we know who he is and we are very happy for his success. His hedonistic and hypnotic house fits perfectly with the Barcelona nights (especially in summer).
Delorean – Deli
These four are not from Barcelona – they are from Zarautz (in the Basque country), but they have been installed in the city for many years now and the light that emanates from their last albums is definitely the one given by the Mediterranean sun.
Cabo San Roque – Mecanisme #4
Poble Sec is another historic city district. It is where Cabo San Roque have a laboratory, where they build their toy orchestras and their instruments of pure craftsmanship. The "recycling" word acquires new meanings with them, and it comes very close to terms like "art", "risk" and "musicality".
Bradien, with Eduard Escoffet – Esbandida
In Bradien's music there are influences from South America, chamber pop, jazz, musique concrète and exotic jazz, as well as – and above all – a close relationship with spa.RK (one of Barcelona's oldest and most prestigious labels), and fantastic shows with Escoffet, poet and one of the city's cultural activists. Very special.
Reactable (Carles López) – A Long Way
Reactable, a light table-instrument, is the best example of innovation and technological application to music to emerge from Barcelona. Created at the Pompeu Fabra University, it fascinates everyone who touches it (starting with Björk).
Fangoria, remixed by Chicks On Speed & Christopher Just – Criticar por Criticar
In recent years there have been many producers and musicians who have settled in the city: Jimi Tenor, Cristian Vogel, Pan Sonic, Dave Tarrida … and Chicks On Speed, which have dared even to remix the great Spanish diva Alaska.
Pau Riba – Maria
Pau Riba is a key figure in understanding the Barcelona of the 70s. To define him is to define a period and a place: experimental, psychedelic, creative and unpredictable, his albums and concerts offer great moments of joy and a sense of freedom.
Los Fulanos Vs Chacho – El Pan Y Los Dientes (Diesler Remix)
If there is a music genre that is strictly native to the city, it's Catalan rumba. For several years artists like Txarly Brown recovered and updated the funk side of the genre through sessions and compilations such as Achilifunk. One example is this pearl by Los Fulanos, remixed for the occasion.
Jeff Mills – The Bells
I doubt there's another city in the world where so many people have danced to this anthem from the Detroit artist and DJ. For the Sonar festival, The Bells is a hymn, one of the highlights of the festival's history, and also, by extension, of a handful of parties in the city over the past 15 years.
• Sónar (sonar.es) runs from 16-18 June
